SPENCER — Fire Chief Robert P. Parsons has packed up dive gear that he bought with grant money so he can return it and allow other departments the chance to use the equipment.

He's also notifying FLEXcon, the town's biggest employer, that firefighters won't be available to stand by, as they have in the past, when employees have to enter confined spaces.

"We don't have the money for training in these areas anymore and I don't feel it's safe to send firefighters into situations they haven't properly trained for," Chief Parsons said.

In a letter to selectmen, he said the Fire Department will withdraw from the regional dive team and, in the case of a drowning or swift water rescue, firefighters will respond and "do what we can" until trained personnel arrive.

In May, residents voted not to fund an override of $484,000 that would have allowed for fully funding the Council on Aging, the Richard Sugden Library, the Fire and Highway departments, and other departments in Town Hall.

It was the second time the Fire Department's training budget was hit hard by cuts. Four years ago, $30,000 was trimmed and training was scaled back. Now, it's reached a point where firefighters will train only to fight fires and extricate crash victims from cars.

Chief Parsons said he believes the voters have spoken, and "in lieu of what they are willing to spend for service, we must be realistic" about what can be provided.

On the list of services being cut at the Fire Department are dive team and underwater support, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, swift water rescue and the department's participation with the District 7 and State Tech Rescue Teams.

The town also won't offer mutual aid to neighboring towns that request help with the discontinued services.

The chief said some residents have wondered why the firefighters don't offer to attend training without pay, but that, he said, isn't legal.

"Sure, they can volunteer to do training, but if I mandate it, which I would for these types of things, they have to be paid," he said.

In addition to training, firefighters are only paid when they respond to calls, the chief explained.